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Cole West leads North Pocono Trojans over Pittston Area

Tagged under: District 2, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| August 30, 2025

With starting running back sidelines early in the contest West picks up the pace in a key early season showdown

YATESVILLE- North Pocono’s starting running back Joe Briskie, came out of the game on the third play of the contest due to shoulder injury, coach Greg Dohhon, needed someone to step up to fill the loss. Enter Cole West who scored three times and picked up a huge interception on defense, in the second half to stop a Pittston Area drive and led the Trojans to 34-21 win at a packed house at Charley Trippi stadium.

West picked up 103 yards in the second half on just 5 touches. He was on the receiving end of a 70 yard touchdown pass and found the end zone twice. While in the first half had less than ten yards as the Trojans held the lead at 14-7.

On their second possession, after forcing a Patriot punt, behind the running of quarterback Chase Zimmerman and running back Jayden Taylor the Trojans moved inside the red zone, from the ten yard line Zimmerman found his way around the left side for the opening score and a 7-0 lead with just 46 seconds left in the quarter.

Following another Pittston Area punt. The Trojans again methodically marched down field to cap off another scoring drive Zimmerman cashed in from two yards out on a quarterback sneak making it 14-0 with 5:52 left before halftime. Zimmerman carried the ball nine times for 45 yards in the contest and scored twice.

Pittston finally was to sustain a drive after a John Jadus 24 yard reception set the Patriots up near the North Pocono goal line running back Brody Spindler slammed in from 2 yards out making a the score 14-7 as the teams hit the locker room.

North Pocono wasted little time on the opening drive of the second half, as West caught a short pass out in the right flat, spun away from a defender and deposited the ball in the end zone for a 70 yard touchdown making the score 21-7 with 11:07 left in the third quarter.

Pittston answered right back as Stephen Barnic made a fingertip catch of a Paulie Ferentino pass in the front corner of the end zone for a 26 yard score trimming the deficit to 21-14 at the 7:15 mark. Ferentino would complete 10 of 14 passes for 147 yards and the one touchdown.

Then West took over as he took a direct snap near midfield started up the middle then cut right and had a easy path to paydirt giving the visitors a 27-14 lead as the point-after was missed with 1:59 left in the third quarter.

The Patriots had an answer for that score as well as Spindler dove his way in for six from a yard out making a the score 27-14 with still 10:18 left in the contest. Spindler finished with 26 yards on 9 carries. Jude Ferentino led the ground attack with 77 yards for the Patriots.

West capped off the scoring on another direct snap from the Patriot 29, this time he went around left end and out ran the Pittston defense to make it 34-21 with 7:12 left in regulation.

North Pocono out gained Pittston in total yards 443 to 277. The Trojans ran the ball 46 times for 311 yards compared to the Patriots 33 carries for 130 yards.

“We as coaches tend to complicate football, Football is about getting the ball into your best players hands.” North Pocono coach Greg Dolhon stated after the game. We had to get the ball in West’ hands and he stepped up to the challenge.” Dohhon concluded.

The defense came up with two huge plays on the Patriots last two drives of the game as West had a diving interception to stop a drive in Trojan territory and then Tate Bowen intercepted a Ferantino pass in the end zone to seal the deal.

North Pocono 2-0 will be home next Friday against win-less Wyoming Valley West Spartans, Valley West got thumped by Scranton Friday night 45-7. Pittston Area 1-1 on the season will try for their second win in the WVC as they take on another Trojan team–Nanticoke Area at Frank Chicknosky stadium next week. Nanticoke 0-2 lost to Carbondale 37-2.

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